University of Ghana Interchange, Legon

An interchange agreement with the Department of Public Administration at the University of Ghana provides for Queen's graduate students from the School of Policy Studies going to Ghana for a 9 week period during the spring/summer semester (June –August). Students may choose to remain in Ghana for a longer period of time.

The program has four components:

A 36 hour course on policy making in Africa normally taught by a faculty member from the University of Ghana

A three day on-site orientation to the country in lectures provided by faculty of the University of Ghana in Legon, meetings with Ghanaian Parliamentarians, meetings with members of the Ghanaian civil service, and an introduction to the basic services needed by students while in Ghana (transportation, banking, food, etc in the neighbourhood where students will be living).

Five study tours to all regions of Ghana (usually conducted on weekends) led by a faculty member from the University of Ghana

A work placement (usually 8 weeks long) with an NGO or government department

Students travel together to Ghana, and live together in housing arranged by the University of Ghana while there. A faculty member from the University of Ghana is assigned to the group and is available to them 24/7.

In past, the first element of the program was taught on campus in Kingston and students would leave after course completion at the end of June. Most students completed all the credits required for their degree before departing for Ghana. The experience in Ghana was not for credit.

The School of Policy Studies is now considering having students take the 36 hour credit course in a concentrated way in Ghana over a 6 day period and students receiving credit for their 8 week placement there. Students would depart Canada in early June and return in early August.